SunPower breaks ground solar project at Vandenberg Air Force Base

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SunPower  has broken ground on a 28-megawatt solar photovoltaic system at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California, a project expected to create about 150 jobs at peak of construction.

Upon operation, it’s anticipated to be the largest behind-the-meter solar power system in the Air Force where 100 percent of the energy generated will be consumed onsite.

“A solar project that is grid-connected to the Base enables us to meet our electric demand with renewable energy and increase our energy security,” said Ken Domako, chief, Portfolio Optimization, Vandenberg Air Force Base. “We look forward to increasing the Air Force’s energy independence with competitively priced, dependable solar from SunPower.”

The SunPower solar power system will be installed on land that has gone unused since 2007, just outside the gates of Vandenberg where Air Force housing once stood.

The Base will purchase energy generated by the plant under a power purchase agreement (PPA), providing Vandenberg with competitive, fixed electricity rates over the next 25 years. The Air Force will retain all environmental credits associated with the system.

“The Air Force has an aggressive target to meet that requires full energy assurance for key missions,” said Dan Gerdes, Air Force Civil Engineer Center rates and renewables division chief. “By diversifying our energy mix at Vandenberg to include SunPower’s high efficiency solar technology, we’re confident we’ll have the electrons we need, when we need them, creating long-term value for our operations.”

Once complete, the system will provide a projected 54,500 megawatt hours of energy annually, meeting about 35 percent of Vandenberg’s total energy needs. It will also contribute to the entire Air Force’s goal of meeting 25 percent of its electricity demand with renewables.

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